Casablanca – French coach Herve Renard is expected to be appointed as Ivory Coast’s new head coach within the next 48 hours, according to French outlet Le Parisien.
The 57-year-old is reportedly set to replace Emerse Faé, whose departure came as a surprise despite leading the Elephants to the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title and guiding them to the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
If confirmed, the move would mark Renard’s second spell in charge of Ivory Coast after famously leading the West African nation to the 2015 AFCON title, ending a 23-year wait for continental glory.
The Frenchman has been without a long-term role since briefly taking charge of Tunisia during the 2026 World Cup, where he was appointed on an interim basis after Sabri Lamouchi’s departure.
Tunisia lost both matches under his management and exited the tournament, but the short stint reportedly did little to diminish his reputation.
According to Le Parisien, several national teams, including Senegal, South Africa, and South Korea, had shown interest in Renard before Ivory Coast emerged as the frontrunner for his signature.
Renard remains one of Africa’s most decorated international coaches. In addition to his AFCON triumph with Ivory Coast, he guided Zambia to a historic continental title in 2012 and later coached Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and France’s women’s national team.
His reputation also grew globally after leading Saudi Arabia to a shock 2-1 victory over eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Ivory Coast’s football federation is reportedly looking for an experienced coach capable of preparing the team for the 2027 AFCON and the next World Cup cycle, with Renard viewed as the ideal candidate given his familiarity with the squad and his track record on the continent.
